Photo By David Lipp | From left, Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker; Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota...... read more read more
FARGO, N.D. — It was standing room only today as state and community leaders and military members from different branches of service gathered to cut the ribbon officially opening the Fargo Military Service Center. Located at 2219 12th St. N. in Fargo, the new center provides a wealth of resources for current and former service members and their families.
“When our military men and women return home after serving our state and nation, it is important they receive the resources they need to reintegrate and move on with the lives they so proudly and selflessly put on hold to protect our homeland and our way of life,” said Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, who spoke at the event. “This new center will provide valuable services to our veterans, military members and families and ensure they receive the care and support they deserve and have so honorably earned.”
The center is operated by the North Dakota National Guard’s Service Member and Family Support office but serves all branches of the military. Gov. Jack Dalrymple included funding for the center in his 2011-13 executive budget, which was approved by the Legislature.
"North Dakota continues to lead the way in providing care to our service members, and this is the next step, not the last step, in ensuring high-quality care for veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. “This is a one-stop service center — and one of the first of its kind in the nation — for anything a service member, veteran or military family may need. That’s innately important because the more comprehensive resources we can have in the simplest fashion will be of the most benefit.”
Today’s ceremony also included plaque presentations from the North Dakota Patriot Guard and Paster Steven Holmes with the Garrrison, N.D., Family Readiness Group. Members of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce assisted in the ribbon cutting.
The Military Service Center concept in North Dakota was launched in January 2009 in Bismarck. The center’s success prompted the effort in Fargo, where it will be staffed by military and civilian employees of the North Dakota National Guard. Last year alone, the Bismarck MSC had 2,980 individuals come in for assistance. Thousands of others were contacted through events and activities provided by the center’s staff. Since the Fargo Military Service Center’s soft opening Oct. 24, 524 people have visited for services after hearing about it through word of mouth.
The Fargo MSC will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday but available 24/7 via phone.
Assistance on site includes military ID cards, family assistance, youth programs and information and a Military Outreach Services specialist for resource referral and information. Other services that can be accessed through the Fargo MSC include a personal financial counselor, military family life counselor, Military OneSource assistance, transition assistance advisor, chaplains, licensed social workers, a sexual assault response specialist and a suicide prevention specialist. The center also will be able to provide information on state and federal entitlements and benefits, including TriCare health insurance, life insurance, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and military records requests.
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2011 14:38 |
| Story ID: | 81445 |
| Location: | FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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